DHA Supplements to Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Pregnant Women (The Omega-3 Pregnancy Study)...
Overweight and ObesityInsulin Resistance4 moreWomen with excess adiposity while pregnant are more likely to develop gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy than women of healthy weights. This may occur because overweight and obese pregnant women are less sensitive to insulin and have more inflammation than pregnant women of healthy weights. This study will examine the effect of a nutritional supplement, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on improving insulin sensitivity and lessening inflammation in overweight and obese pregnant women.
Comparison of Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio With 24-hour Urine Protein Excretion in Woman With...
HypertensionPregnancy-InducedThe presence of proteinuria (>300 mg/d) represents an important factor in the diagnosis and evaluation of the pregnant patient with an hypertensive disorder. The 24 hour collection of urine for proteinuria is the gold standard for the diagnosis of the condition and allows the physician to determine if an hypertensive disorder is related directly or not to the gestation. The problem is the time it takes and the technical difficulties related to the sample collection. An alternative is the quantification of protein and creatinine in a random sample of urine. We seek to evaluate if this method is as affective as the gold standard in the diagnosis of proteinuria (>300 mg/d).
Invasive Versus Non-invasive Assessment of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy...
Hypertension in PregnancyHypertensive disorders of pregnancy are important causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hypertension is one of the most commonly reported health conditions among pregnant women and complicates 5-10% of all pregnancies.(Martin et al., 2009) (Wagner et al., 2007) The measurement of central BP in hypertensive patients became more important because of its predictive value for cardiovascular events. Direct intra-arterial readings are considered to be the gold standard method for blood pressure measurement but because arterial cannulation is associated with risks, alternative non-invasive blood pressure measurements may be used. (Araghi et al., 2006) In our study, the investigator aimed to assess the accuracy of non-invasive central blood pressure by oscillometric automated device (Mobil O graph) in comparison to the invasive blood pressure measurement by arterial cannulation in patients with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. the investigators enrolled 100 pregnant women and 10 healthy non-pregnant women as a control group, central blood pressure was measured invasively by arterial cannula and non-invasively by oscillometric automated device (Mobil O Graph). the investigatorshave found a high correlation between non-invasive central blood pressure measurements and invasively measured both systolic (r 0.968, p=0.000) and diastolic (r 0.687, p=0.000).
The Effect of High Dose Folic Acid Versus Placebo on the Rate of Gestational Diabetes or Gestational...
Gestational DiabetesGestational HypertensionThe purpose of this study is to determine if higher-than usual doses of daily folic acid has an effect on the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or gestational hypertension in pregnant women while determining status of folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine and vitamin D in pregnancy.
Melatonin in Pregnancy Compared to Non-pregnant
Pregnancy Transient HypertensionMelatonin is well known for its role in the sleep-wake cycle but it is less well known as an effective antioxidant. It has been reported to be synthesised in the placenta and may have both receptor mediated and non-receptor mediated protective functions during pregnancy. Severe pre-eclampsia has been reported to be associated with low levels of melatonin in the placenta although it is not known if the placental melatonin contributes to circulating levels. There is little reported on the circulating levels of melatonin or oxidative stress at different stages of normal pregnancy. More information on the role of melatonin and metabolism of melatonin in pregnancy as well as any significant association with adverse pregnancy outcomes would inform planning of larger research studies to investigate the potential role for melatonin as a biomarker for obstetric disease and potentially as a therapeutic agent in future. This observational pilot study aims to measure serum melatonin levels and 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate (the major metabolite of melatonin) during each trimester of pregnancy.
Fish Oil Trials in Pregnancy for the Prevention of Pregnancy Complications ('FOTIP')
Preterm BirthIntrauterine Growth Retardation1 moreThe initial trial examined if fish oil supplementation during pregnancy could reduce the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm birth in pregnancies that were at increased risk of these complications. The study was designed as a multi-centre clinical trial based in 19 hospitals in seven countries in Europe.
25- Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Pregnancy and Effects on Pregnancy Related Disorders
Vitamin d DeficiencyPreeclampsia3 moreEvaluation of 25- Hydroxyvitamin D levels in pregnant women in Austria and potential related disorders Hypothesis: Austrian pregnant women are Vitamin D deficient Present vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy is insufficient Vitamin D deficiency is associated with pregnancy related disorders like preeclampsia
Placental Growth and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Hypertension Induced by PregnancyPre-Eclampsia1 moreThe purpose of this study to determine if measurement of maternal serum biomarkers and evaluation of the placenta by ultrasound can improve prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Hemodynamic Assessment of Healthy and Hypertensive Pregnant Women by Non-Invasive Bio-Reactance...
HypertensionPregnancy-InducedThe purpose of this study is to determine whether a noninvasive method of measuring certain aspects of blood circulation (e.g., blood pressure, cardiac output) is an accurate and reliable method to detect changes in pregnant patients. Specifically,the investigators are interested in patients diagnosed with high blood pressure during their pregnancy, as compared with normal pregnant patients. A noninvasive, accurate method of taking these measurements in pregnant patients is not currently available.
Preeclampsia Risk Assessment: Evaluation of Cut-offs to Improve Stratification
Preeclampsia and EclampsiaPreeclampsia Severe4 moreThe purpose of this study is to Identify a cut-off for the ratio of the serum proteins soluble FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 1 (sFLT-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) that identifies women will who develop preeclampsia with severe features within 2 weeks of testing (clinically positive) from those who do not develop preeclampsia with severe features within 2 weeks of testing (clinically negative) among preterm pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. And To validate the cut-off the ratio of sFLT-1 and PlGF and to validate the performance of the automated assays used to find the cut-off. Test performance includes positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity. Subjects will provide blood, urine, and saliva samples at the time of enrollment. Samples will be frozen for batch assessment of sFLT-1 and PlGF levels by automated assays. Clinicians, subjects, and researchers will be blinded to protein level assessment, therefore assay results will not affect clinical management.